Could brain workshop be dangerous?

[aok...@yahoo.com]

Hey there everybody,i'm kinda new to this,and i'v been experiencing a
strange bodily reaction to dual n back,namely when i play this game
my body reacts the next day with a sort of anxious feeling in the
region of solar plexus (i'm not sure what its called in English) its
positioned in the center of my chest, like being excited ,but for no
apparent reason. I also experience sleepiness ,witch is why i go to
bed early but cant seem to sleep for long. I'm very tired about 12 pm
or 1 am but wake up around 5 or 6 am,and i noticed this happening more
intensely when i eat light food as opposed to food that is rich in fat
like meat.I keep a diary so i know this came to be when i started on
brain workshop.So is this something strange,has this happened to
someone already,and more importantly is it dangerous?

[Susan]

Hello,

I don't think it's anything to worry about. The first day I tried
dual N-back, I did several sessions just before bed, and then had
trouble getting to sleep. I just felt more 'wired' than usual, kinda
like what you describe. I think my brain was just getting used to
some rusty pathways starting to fire up more. Now that I'm used to
it, late-evening n-back doesn't keep me up. N-back and coffee are
still a great way to wake up!

[T. Lavon Lawrence]

Dual N-Back isn't dangerous.

Sounds like you may be dealing with stress that might have more to do with psychology of approach than with any impact from dnb.  

Here are a couple of suggestions you might consider (or not):

• Make sure when you're training that you're not allowing your physical body to tense up.  If you sense tension, shake it out - intentionally loosen up.
• Ensure that your BREATHING is relaxed, deep and even.  We're talking about the same kind of techniques that professional athletes and high-level business performers and public speakers use to keep from getting all tied up in knots when working under pressure.
• Your diet should be completely healthy - as goes your body, so goes your brain.
• Do NOT - NOT - allow your thoughts, expectations, or imaginary projections about how you want to or should be performing cause you to go into it with frustration or over-exertion.  
• Whether prior to or after training sessions, do not allow your mind to race around like an out-of-control team of wild horses.  Grab the reigns of your attention and practice leisurely effort at keeping your mind where your body is.  This will also improve your performance at Dual N-Back over time.

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[The.Fourth.Deviation.]

On Jul 3, 12:01 pm, "T. Lavon Lawrence"

[brain train]

and don't do it just before going to bed.. keep gap of 1 or 2 hours or more.

 

feeling sleepy while doing dnb is normal- many times i go to bed while feeling sleepy, taking it as a small break, and end up taking a nap!

 

you may try doing it first thing in the morning..

 

braintrain

[exigentsky]

I've also had strange sensations the first time I did DNB. My scalp
had a tingling feeling and my head felt warmer. I also felt very
motivated to "do something." I remember feeling an odd desire to do
mental calculations etc. It was very motivating but it slowly subsided
after more training, or I got used to it. DNB is almost like taking
Adderall for me, as long as I am at maximum focus while doing it.
However, when I just treat it like a chore and don't try my best, I
end-up not noticing any changes.

I have no clue if DNB increases intelligence or any of my abilities
and if it did, it wasn't anything dramatic. However, the psychological
benefits are worth it for me. I'm resuming it after a long break.

On Jul 3, 4:11 am, "aok...@yahoo.com" <aok...@yahoo.com> wrote:

[aok...@yahoo.com]

Thanks for the update and help everyone,@T. Lavon Lawrence-it doesn't
seem to be produced by tensing up because its produced the day after i
exercise i'm so drowsy when i play that i don't have the energy to
tense,but thanks for the tips anyway, i'll be sure to keep them in my
mind

[punter]

@Group elders, one question- What is the ideal time (of the day) to be
training with DNB sessions. I remember reading something about doing
it at night time (as it helps keep the brain in "some sort of a state
(pardon my loose language here)" while sleeping which is good. But in
my case, I come home tired from work and I can barely read a news
article, doing DNB I guess would be next to impossible. On the other
hand, training early in the morning exhausts me to some extent, I feel
a bit worn out at work. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[Arky]

http://www.gwern.net/DNB%20FAQ#sleep

As mentioned here, it might actually be better to train as close to
bedtime as possible. Gains are faster and better.

On Jul 4, 1:48 am, brain train <brain.train...@gmail.com> wrote:
> and don't do it just before going to bed.. keep gap of 1 or 2 hours or more.
>
> feeling sleepy while doing dnb is normal- many times i go to bed while
> feeling sleepy, taking it as a small break, and end up taking a nap!
>
> you may try doing it first thing in the morning..
>
> braintrain
>
> On Sun, Jul 3, 2011 at 10:31 PM, T. Lavon Lawrence <
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> dynamicmentalfitn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Dual N-Back isn't dangerous.
>
> > Sounds like you may be dealing with stress that might have more to do with
> > psychology of approach than with any impact from dnb.
>
> > Here are a couple of suggestions you might consider (or not):
>

> >    - Make sure when you're training that you're not allowing your physical

> >    body to tense up.  If you sense tension, shake it out - intentionally loosen
> >    up.

> >    - Ensure that your BREATHING is relaxed, deep and even.  We're talking

> >    about the same kind of techniques that professional athletes and high-level
> >    business performers and public speakers use to keep from getting all tied up
> >    in knots when working under pressure.

> >    - Your diet should be completely healthy - as goes your body, so goes
> >    your brain.
> >    - Do NOT - NOT - allow your thoughts, expectations, or imaginary

> >    projections about how you want to or should be performing cause you to go
> >    into it with frustration or over-exertion.

> >    - Whether prior to or after training sessions, do not allow your mind

> > trai...@neuro-sculpting.com

[Nathan Lippi]

Hi aokorp,

I've also noticed a tense feeling around my solar plexus, as well as a
tingling sensation in my head when I play. I've played fairly
consistently for about 6 months, and I still notice this. The
tingling in my head is pleasant and seems to go hand in hand with
better focus/cognition but the tension in my solar plexus seems to
indicate anxiety, in my case.

Since not everyone seems to notice these effects, it may be something
that only affects people with certain personalities/dispositions.

A few things that might be worth trying to relieve this tension:
-- Progressive muscle relaxation (Google can help w/ this one)
-- Intense aerobic exercise (running or sprints seem to work well
for me)
-- Mediation

Nathan

[aok...@yahoo.com]

Hi Lippi,I think i nailed it, i read a few other posts and i concluded
that the most likely answer to the tingling sensation in the head is
increased circulation and blood flow and probably what makes you feel
more able-minded.Also i read how playing dnb increases dopamine levels
in the body witch after some investigation turned out to be a
precursor to norepinephrine and later adrenaline,so my guess is that
after a session of dnb brain starts pumping dopamine or sa variation
of it and later during the day it changes to adrenalin and gives you
the feeling of tension,and the rest is probably as you said ,"it may

be something
that only affects people with certain personalities/dispositions".

Are you by any chance a sportsmen? Perhaps dopamine is more rapidly or
in a greater amount changed to adrenaline in a body that needs it
more?
I do a lot of physical work from time to time,but i was in sports for
the most of my teens.